Transcripts For LINKTV Democracy Now 20140311

Nuclear power station. Today we speak to the man who was Prime Minister of japan at the time. Rare sitting leader changes his position, but that kan did. Aoto it is impossible to totally prevent any accident or disaster happening at the Nuclear Power plant. The one way to prevent it from happening, to prevent the risk getting risk of having to evacuate huge amount of people and for the purpose of the benefit of the lives of our people and even the economy of japan, i can to change the position that the only way to do this, was necessary was to totally get rid of the Nuclear Power plant. The world what now political dissident, lynn was an author noam chomsky. Literally horrifying this is happening that japan with its unique, her and this experiences with the effect of nuclear explosions, well have to discuss and this particularly horrifying happening to children who are defenseless, innocent, but unfortunately, this is what happens all of the time. All of that and more coming up. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. The search for the missing airliner that vanished from malaysia to china is reportedly focusing on malaysias west coast, far from the opposite coast where the plane last made contact with the ground. Now in its fourth day, the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 is being described as one of the greatest aviation mysteries in history. Some 239 passengers were on board, including two allegedly traveling on stolen passports. Japan is marking the third anniversary of the fukushima h e crisis when a massive 9. 0 magnitude earthquake triggered a devastating to numbing in its northeast coast. The 20 disasters resulted in an unprecedented triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi powerstation. Internal emails shows in the days after the meltdown, regulators in the United States made a concerted effort to downplay the potential of a similar crisis occurring on u. S. Soil. The campaign included refusing to answer Media Questions on disaster repair does, spinning journalists on key data, and even hiding japanese engineers from reporters visiting the new curricula trick commission in maryland. The african despite widespread internal down over aging plants and in a memo to staffers about the agencys public talking points, the nrc plus had a Public Affairs writes we will have more on the anniversary of the races after the headlines. El salvadors Election Tribunal says a former rebel leader has an a reversible lead in president ial elections. The latest result shows salvador Sanchez Ceren besting rightwing candidate Norman Quijano by just over 6000 votes. The tribunal is recounting ballots from disputed polling stations, only while Norman Quijano is calling for a full recount. The tribunal is expected to declare the winner on wednesday. If his lead holds, salvador Sanchez Ceren would be the first fmln president to succeed another after decades of rightwing rule. Salvador Sanchez Ceren phot with the fmln when it was a Guerrilla Group and Political Party filing u. S. Backed military government in the 1980s. Senate democrats have staged an allnight filibuster to urge congressional action on Global Warming. The allnight marathon began at 6 30 monday evening with over two dozen senators taking part. Senators Edward Markey of massachusetts and Barbara Boxer of california said republicans who deny Global Warming are ignoring an exact and existential threat. Quickly planet is running a fever, but there are no Emergency Rooms for planets. We have to engage in the Preventative Care so that we deploy the strategies that make it possible for our planet to avoid the worst most catastrophic effects of climate change. Care all know all senators deeply about their constituents and their families. If anyone of us saw danger looming, we would do everything in our power to save them and yet in the face of refutable scientific agreement, the senate does nothing to make sure that polluters pay for the carbonate unit, which would move us toward a Clean Energy Economy and away from the struck the climate change. Despite the effort to promote climate action, took over three hours before the first call was heard for what environmentalists see as one of the most immediate and important steps that washington can take rejecting the Keystone Xl Oil pipeline. Senator tim kaine of virginia made the demand saying why would we embrace Tar Sands Oil and backside to a dirtier tomorrow . As the senate held its, filibuster, protest actions against the keystone xl continue nationwide. Over 20 people were arrested outside the Federal Building in philadelphia on monday, protesting the conclusions of the state Department Report that said the pipelines construction would not have a Significant Impact on climate change. Meanwhile, it appears the state department made a key air and assessing the keystone xls and terminal impact. In its report, the state Department Said the pipeline would have little impact on tar sands extraction either way because the oil easily be moved by rail should the keystone xl be rejected. The report cited industry projections of moving around 200,000 barrels of oil per day by train. According to reuters, the Company Behind the pipeline, transcanada, has moved just one quarter of that amount during its peak deliveries of oil by rail. The Senate Overwhelmingly approved a measure to overhaul prosecution of Sexual Assault in the military. Passed by a unanimous 97 to zero vote, the bill scraps the centuryold good soldier defense that allows defense to present evidence during trial of a positive military character. The bill gives a keyser sze boys and whether cases are held in civilian or military courts and requirements for commanders. The bill is considerably weaker than a measure rejected by the senate last week. Hundreds of people gathered on both sides of the u. S. X echo border on monday to support a group of youths seeking reentry to the u. S. It was the third action in two years in which people deported from mexico tried to return to the u. S. Without legal documents. The National Immigrant Youth Alliance organize the action to call attention to record deportations and the stalled efforts that immigration reform. Jocelyn rodriguez, whose father was deported three years ago, traveled with her sister from north carolina. Dad andaiting for my all of the other families that are out here, because its not just me. Its not just about me and my sister. It is about everybody out here. Around 30 people tried to injure on monday, seeking a humanitarian visa or asylum. He action focused on young people left without legal status after coming to the u. S. As undocumented children. Entire families will attempt to reach of u. S. Later this week. In the coming days, the Obama Administration is setting a record milestone of 2 million deportations since taking office. Deportation separated over 150,000 u. S. Born children from their parents last year, the majority under 10 years old. As activists and immigrant families challenged deportation on the u. S. Mexico border, a Hunger Strike is continuing at a Washington State immigration jail. At the750 prisoners northwest Detention Center are refusing meals in protest of the Obama Administrations record deportations as well as poor conditions that include wages of just one dollar a day for prison labor. Supporters say the strikers are reporting increased retaliation from risen officials, including isolation and threats of forced feeding. Asylum seekers are also allegedly being threatened with denial of their bids. A rally in support of the Hunger Strike is said to take place outside the prison later today. Tousands of people marched the Florida State capitol on monday in a rally against the states stand your ground mall. Those attending included the reverend al sharpton and the parents of Trayvon Martin and jordan davis, two unarmed black teens killed in florida in the last two years. Trayvon martins mother said florida is failing people of color, while jordans mother said the movement will refuse to back down. [indiscernible] right now florida is failing us. We will continue to fight. We will continue to stand. Opponents want the standard ground mall repealed, but Florida Republicans are pushing a measure that would expand its reach. A new bill advanced last week would make it equal to fire warning shot a potential attacker. The proposal would ostensibly benefit defendants like marissa alexander, a black woman sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot near her estranged husband. She faces up to 60 years of her retrial. But opponents fear the expanded the wikileaks to even lead even more shootings of unarmed people of color. The rally in florida against stand your ground comes days after Trayvon Martins killer, george zimmerman, made his latest public appearance a signing autographs at a gun show in orlando. The house energy and commerce subcommittee has opened a probe into regulators failure to heed complaints about the defection ignition switches in General Motors vehicles, which have been tied to 13 deaths. General motors recalled some 1. 6 million vehicles last month over in ignition florida shuts down vehicles and disabled airbags. The national Highway Traffic Safety Administration failed to launch an investigation this by receiving over 260 complaints about ignition failures in the last 11 years, according to the new york times. Leaders of 15 caribbean countries have called for a platform have adopted a platform calling for slavery reparations from europe. The 10 point declaration calls on europe to issue a formal apology, forgive debt, and help descendents cope with the psychological impact of slaverys legacy. Edward snowden get a rare public speech monday at the sxsw interactive festival in austin, texas. It was the first time he has to rectally addressed a u. S. Audience since he left the country last may. Snowden spoke via video stream from russia where he has been granted a lyrical asylum. , the global mass surveillance remember, this is a global issue [indiscernible] the people in this room now and you guys are the firefighters. [indiscernible] Edward Snowden added he believed his whistleblowing has led to more security and would not hesitate to leak files again. When greenwald also spoke. A canadian photojournalist and activist has died walk covering the civil war in syria. Ali mustafa and six others were killed sunday in a Syrian Government airstrike on the northern town of aleppo. His photographs of the searing conflict captured the plight of besieged civilians. In an interview with canadas ctv news channel after his first trip to cover the syrian conflict last year, ali mustafa discussed his attempt to document syrias suffering. As a journalist, i think is important to be there to tell the story that was emerging as one of the major developing issues right now. As well as it being an outgrowth of some of my other work in the region. You basically just have to do as best you can to be aware of your surroundings and try to save and to stay safe captures many Quality Photos as you can under the circumstances. In addition to his photojournalism abroad, ali mustafa was a dedicated activist in his home city of toronto, focusing on issues of poverty in the treatment of prisoners detained without charge under socalled security certificates. Or than 100 people honored his life at a vigil in toronto on sunday. Those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. Three years ago today, a massive 9. 0 magnitude earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami that struck japans northeast coast. The twin disasters resulted in an unprecedented Nuclear Crisis a triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power station. Three years later, about 267 thousand people are still living in temporary housing and other makeshift facilities. Many cannot return home due to high levels of radiation. The cleanup and decommissioning effort at fukushima could take decades. In february, the owner of the Nuclear Plant, the Tokyo Electric Power company or tepco, said about 100 tons of highly radioactive water had leaked from one of the hundreds of storage tanks at the devastated plant. On sunday, thousands of japanese residents marched to parliament and called on the new japanese government of Prime Minister shinzo abe not to restart some of japans 48 idled reactors. Speakers at the rally included former japanese Prime Minister naoto kan who held the post at the time of the fukushima meltdown. I believe now is the crucial time for us to eliminate Nuclear Power. Abe administration is going in the opposite direction. Since the fukushima crisis, naoto kan has become a vocal critic of Nuclear Power, saying it is too dangerous for japan to keep open any of its Nuclear Plants. Up until the time of fukushima, he was a longtime supporter Nuclear Power. In this exclusive extended broadcast interview, i said im former Prime Minister naoto kan and we are in japan in january. I began by asking him to talk about what happened three years ago today are march 11, 2011. Naoto kan is translated in the interview by meri joyce. On that day at 2 46 in the afternoon japanese time, i was Budgetary Committee meeting. At that time the earth started to shake him and the committee winter break, i returned straightbacked to the office and also went within my official residency to the Crisis Management center and was trying to gather information about the tsunami which had just occurred. At that time, the first information we received in regards to the Nuclear Power plant was that although the earthquake had hit, it was safely stop all operations at the plant. Hearing this information i felt relieved. However, less than one hour after that, received information that the Fukushima Daiichi, all of the electricity had been stopped and not only this, but all of the cooling functions had failed. At the time of hearing this information, i felt this terrible cold over my body, feeling i can never forget. Knowing even though the Nuclear Plant had been stopped for long time after this, it was continuing a critical situation and there is the potential risk the nuclear fuel it actually go into the ground. So what did you do . Time, one of the first things i did following the Nuclear Disaster was to set up a control center to deal with this and set up to leave three people in particular, one being a staff when on an expert of safety regulations and one person from the former Vice President of the company. One of the first things we set up was to find out what the actual situation in the plant was, what was really happening, and also try to make productions about what would happen from there. At that time, at first of the psalmist impossible to have any kind of Accurate Information. The first thing we found out at the time, we were considering the reactor 1 was the most likely to be in the sears situation and has serious problems. However, even at the night of the first day of march 11, what i was being told being reported was the water levels were safely above where the fuel rods were contained in the container and now we know actually the measuring equipment to measure the water level was broken at that time. And only four hours after the earthquake occurred, actually, is when we experienced meltdown in reactor 1. Even through the container of thickness 20 centimeters, there or fuellding hole was leaking to the outside of the container. Now we know this information that this was happening at 7 00 em approximately on that date, but at the time, none of this information was accurately conveyed to me. This was the first incident of an accident where a hole in the pressure container was were a hole had been created. Even at the three mile location, it was not to the extent of having a hole in the container. The fukushima accident was the first accident actually have meltdown in this kind of way, in a situation very close to what was with the china syndrome. At this time, because of the high levels of pressure inside the container, there was the need to open the venture release some of this pressure. But the debate in regards to how to go about doing this was going between the actual site, the tepco in tokyo, and my office will. Office. Y it was difficult to obtain Accurate Information to know what was happening. The next morning at around 6 00 a. M. , i decided the best thin to do was to speak directly with the person responsible at the site, so i departed by helicopter to go to the Fukushima Daiichi site. And there i met with the person responsible at the plant. He explained to me about the situation from his perspective, which was occurring on the site. He was a clearly spoken man, which meant it was three much a plus in terms of considering how to deal with the situation. What did tepco to go management say to you, was at the same thing as the head of the actual plant when he flew there . There . You flew from what i was hearing from the headquarters of tepco and from the former Vice President was on the snow Accurate Information being conveyed about what was actually the situation on site. Other important serious issue at the time also was in the case of a Nuclear Disaster, the system each was in place, the Prime Minister and the Prime Ministers office would be in the head of the measures to be taken office of what to be done from there, but they Credit Organization that was established to support that was actually located within the ministry of the economy. So the person who was to explain to me from the group about what was happening was that an expert on Nuclear Issues but economic expert. So his explanation, it was impossible to know the actual situation of what was happening in the reactor. Through this situation, it showed to us in the case of such a severe accident, the whole situation of the allocation which was in place and what should be done in that case and what kind of Human Resources were needed for that and also what kind of hardware was needed for that, it became clear that no precautions have been put in place, no consideration of what to actually do it for Nuclear Disaster really happened. This had not been prepared for at all. What was the worstcase scenario they you understood at this point . Time the accident happened and for the first week from there, i did not return it all to my own house but remained within the office of the official residence. Every time there i would learn i would consider how much worse could this accident get. What i wasime, thinking about was the accident at chernobyl. Of course the accident there was a huge scale, but there was one reactor in this case in chernobyl. When we were thinking about the ichiation of Fukushima Dai plant, there are six reactors pools. En spent fuel daiichi combined with and the others, there were 10 actors and 11 spent fuel pools. If we were to lose control of this, it would mean the disaster could be on a scale of 10 or 100 times more Radioactive Materials been released and what happened that chernobyl. Digging about this many think about the risk of the possibility that maybe even areas including tokyo might need to be evacuated. Head ofis i asked the the Nuclear Committee to simulate what kind of worstcase scenario could be and this simulation was presented to me on march 23, i believe it was. Within this scenario, is that the worstcase would mean having to evacuate up to 250 kilometer radius of the area. This is almost the same as what i was fearing would be the worst scenario. In the case where 250 kilometer radius area would have to be evacuated, that would involve 40 of the population of the whole country of japan. Are talking about a population of like 50 million people. When we think about this or thinking about japan is a country in the long term, it would suffer extreme damage and how to even consider functioning in such a situation. You were just on the verge of such a situation. In their book, the journalist lucy and david reported when the spokesman let slip soon after the earthquake that meltdown was a possibility, meaning core fuel melt inside at least one of the reactors, he was removed from his post. Who removed him . First of all, in regard to the meltdown, from the very first stages after the disaster, i was speaking with the nisa and tepco in the Nuclear Safety committee and other experts and so on. From hearing all of these different opinions, i personally released also felt there was a risk of potentially expressing a meltdown. So in regards to how the government at the time was explaining to the public of japan about what was happening, he each day in the morning and afternoon, the chief cabinet would be giving a press comments to explained the situation. Nisa giving press conferences. This particular spokesperson gave information that had not actually been recorded to the Cabinet Office in advance to this. There shouldve been in agreement where if the nisa was going to be having these kind of new information or, it should be reported to the Cabinet Office. Otherwise, there will be differences in the information which is being presented. I believe that was perhaps in the background about why there was this change in the position and spokesperson. A decision was not made by politicians internally within the organization. So theres the possibility of having 40 of japan evacuated. What happened next . First of all, in the case of japan, we do not have a role for the case of martial law. Nine years ago at the time of the great earthquake, this kind of law was in place. First of all of thinking in the case where we would have to evacuate the 50 million people, there would have to be strong decisions were authority in terms of the logistics of this. For example, transportation. At the time when i received the worstcase scenario i march 23, this was we could see we have managed to avoid perhaps one of the biggest potential crises which could have happened. Although the reactors had already happened to explode at reactors 1, 3, and 4 and others have gone through meltdown. It it impossible to start to inject water so the temperature within the reactors was becoming somewhat less. At the time of this report thing issued on the 23rd, we could see hopefully there would not be a need for such a full skeleton actuation as the worstcase scenario. Former japanese minister naoto kan. He was head of the country at the time of the crisis. He resigned later that year, but not before he ordered the closure of a Nuclear Power plant and froze plans to build the reactors. Back with them in a moment. [music break] this is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. As a market third anniversary of the triple meltdown at the fukushima Nuclear Plant in japan, we return to our exclusive extended interview in tokyo in the offices of naoto kan, japans Prime Minister at the time of the catastrophe. Can you explain your decision to order the tepco workers to remain at the plant when tepco wanted them removed . The first thing which happened at 3 00 a. M. On march 15, the minister for the economy came to my office and said that the tepco headquarters had requested to him for the workers to be withdrawn from the Fukushima Daiichi site. Considering what would happen on the site if all of the technicians were withdrawn, considering the fact there were six reactors and four spent fuel pools at the site itself, the swimming the potential of losing control completely of this whole site. Even if selfdefense forces were sent into the locations, theyre not trained to deal with nuclear operations. With no tepco staff were technicians onsite, this would in effect mean abandoning all of the six reactors and seven pools on the daiichi site which would mean the worstcase scenario it actually become reality. So despite the huge risk that was there, i decided it was very important to keep the technicians and the tepco workers on site for as long as possible to try to deal with the situation. So i called and the president of tepco to tell him and physically wet myself to the headquarters of tepco at 4 00 him to directly tell this to the officials of the company. At the same time, i also decided it was important to make sure decisionmaking and information to be done properly between tepco and the government, to set up a joint control center. I set it up within the headquarters but brought in minister and my advisor in place to be permanently within the control center to work with tepco and the government together to try to do with the situation. Who is responsible for this catastrophe, the meltdown at the reactors . First of all, i believe the fact that all of the electricity was lost to this earthquake or tsunami but no preparations being made under the assumption no accidents could happen and technical side of things including both the facilities and also the staffing situation, and the lack of ensuring the full safety of the plant that is still continuing to increase Nuclear Power plant in the situation. The responsibility for this lies on the state of japan and on the government, including me. Theres also responsibility on cap court tepco for not predicting or expecting, not planning for such an accident to happen. Politically, of course, the responsibility lies on me, the government at the time, and the previous government and tepco in charge of the plant. There have been questions about another of the owners of the Nuclear Reactors having higher levy walls to protect the reactors. Here you have tepco very close to those that are regulating them, who in fact was in charge . The location of the Fukushima Daiichi powerplant is originally on 35 meters above water. What happened when the power plant was constructed, the soil was cut down and built lower so the plant was actually in the six reactors were built at 10 meters above sea level. The fact that although it had originally been 35 meters but changed be built at 10 meters, if this had not happened, if it stayed at the original 35 or even 20 meters, then even in the case of a large tsunami, this may have been high enough to prevent this kind of damage. The problem here is the fact that no kinds of measures have been put in place expecting or saying no such accident, no such disaster could ever happen. In regard to the second part of your question, in regards to regulations, the Safety Standards for construction and operation of the Nuclear Power plant was a large set by the ministry of economy and within the government. However, when these kind of standards are being decided, there are many different experts debating however, the influence on the experts by the Utility Companies is so strong, this means for example, if there are strict regulations in place, it is a much higher cost for utilities. So these experts and the standards set this is what i meant from an investigation later the standards were set at a level which would be high assumeto save safely safety but low enough to keep the cost as low as possible, as cheap as possible. It is very rare for leader of the country to change their position in the middle of ruling. That is exactly what happened with you when it came to your position on Nuclear Power. You were for Nuclear Power and then you turned against while you were still a sitting Prime Minister. Before march 11 and the disaster, i was holding the position that if the safety could be insured, that we should continue to utilize Nuclear Power and power plants. But as you said, my position changed. The fukushima disaster brought us on the verge of having to evacuate 50 million people, and we were only just one small step away from perhaps facing this kind of situation. So thinking about how to avoid such a risk of a situation happening again, of course there are many technical suggestions and opinions in place, but if we think of the risk which is posed by for example, what happened with the terrorist attacks of 9 11, it is impossible to totally prevent any kind of accident or disaster happening at the Nuclear Power plant. So the one way to prevent is this from happening is to get rid of the risk of having to evacuate such huge amounts of people, 50 million people. The benefit of the lives of our people and even the economy of japan, i came to change the position that the only way to do this come a what was necessary to do this, was to totally get rid of the Nuclear Power plant. I wanted to step back. When you were winged actuating it actuatingghing tokyo, you had those closest to the plane not effectuated. The u. S. And foreign governments told nationals to leave. The two prime you the Prime Minister did not tell them to leave. The mayor evacuated his community. Why . At the time they said in the case of a Nuclear Disaster what is first supposed to be done is set up a local control center for the local governments gather on the offsite center. In the case of an earthquake, for example, to decide what to do. However, because of the earthquake, it was not possible for these people to gather at an early stage and because of the high levels of radiation. This meant the offsite center was not able to function as it should have in the plant. What did happen in order to decide upon the policies for evacuation and how to do this was those who gathered at the Prime Ministers office and the nisa and tepco and other experts debated this. In particular, the man in charge of Nuclear Safety committee was giving advice about this, upon the advice of others is how this policy was put in place. Hearing that the pulling cooling had stopped, expanding to the 20, 30 kilometers, giving instructions for those to remain indoors. This was done on march 11 and march 12. And so upon the advice and recommendation of experts of thinking how to set these evacuation zones and how, one of the considerations was if the broader evacuations had been set from the beginning, those living closest to the plant because of transportation and congestion a not be able to leave the area. The decision was made to first evacuate those closest to the plant. Within five kilometers sound. From there we gradually expanded to 10, 15, 20, and so on. At the time i had been hearing also and we were aware of the instructions which were given for example by the u. S. And the misuse of other countries for their citizens within, for example, 50 miles, to evacuate. However in the case from the position of the japanese government, there are so many citizens living within this area, to move this number of people all at once is something we had to consider how this could be feasible. Can you explain what the Nuclear Village is . This is the strongest Pressure Group politically, socially, and even influence on the media, the most powerful kind of network, shall we say, and even now, having huge influence. Do you think the Nuclear Village brought you down . In regards to the reason why i left the position of Prime Minister, i dont believe the influence of the Nuclear Village was necessarily so strong. More than that, the problems within the party and within or more for this. Whether they had zero influence . Thering up before the change of policy, there was misinformation and criticism reported by the village against this, so i could not say there was absolutely no influence. You have set the meltdown at fukushima was the most serious accident in history of mankind, more serious than chernobyl. I believe the Nuclear Disaster at fukushima was definitely the largest, most severe of all Nuclear Disasters, including going above chernobyl. The reason for this, as i mentioned before, the accident in chernobyl was immense, but it was one reactor. In the case of fukushima, we had the meltdown, three reactors involved. Fuel pools of spent also. Even now Radioactive Material continues to be released. This is having a very longlasting effect that will continue from now. I believe the disaster of fukushima was larger than that of chernobyl and it is still continuing today. Do you think the food and water of japan is safe . In regard to the food and water, there is a thorough monitoring taking place. That which is actually going for sale or to market is only that which has gone to this monitoring and testing and been declared to be within the state standards. Because of this, i believe the food available on the market is safe. However, when we consider theyre still the issue of contaminated water on the site of the Fukushima Daiichi powerplant being unresolved and the fact the decontamination efforts are continuing but in many places it remains insufficient, while it can be said perhaps the food going onto the market is safe, we cannot say the situation has returned to as it were. Is part of the reason for the push for Nuclear Power, even after fukushima, do you think it has to do with Nuclear Weapons with developing the tony m . Developing plutonium . In regard to considering countries which are considering are wanting to build new Nuclear Power plants, i believe there are two main reasons for this. One is in a situation in countries which are, for example, reliant on buying natural gas from russia wanting to be not controlled or having to rely on russia but be energy independent. For example, estonia, which did decide not to build a stickler powerplant that perhaps that is one example of this. Build a Nuclear Power plants, that perhaps that is one example of this. And also leads to creation of plutonium. This leads to the ability to create Nuclear Weapons. And so having this is also one reason that i believe some countries consider building or having Nuclear Power. So keeping the future possibility, this is the reason which i think cannot be to nine. Months after the Nuclear Meltdown at the mishima, you into the 66th anniversary of the u. S. Atomic bombing of hiroshima august 6, 2011 he was for memorial service. What is the connection between Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear Power . First of all, in regard to the anniversary memorials of hiroshima and nagasaki, i participated as a most all Prime Ministers of japan too. It was not necessarily connected to fukushima, but something which occurs every year. However, theres is a fundamental connection between shima, betweenhiro Nuclear Power and Nuclear Weapons. It was developed to the manhattan project. It is through the development for Nuclear Weapons, nuclear bombs, that the technology for nuke their powerplant came about. The same tech elegy is being used the same technology is being used. Theres a fundamental link between the two. This connects to the development of Nuclear Weapons, which threatened the whole of humanity and Nuclear Power, which puts humanity at a risk. I personally believe it is important to abolish both of these with Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear Power plants. In the case of japan, we do not possess Nuclear Weapons, so were working out here in japan to prevent or get rid of Nuclear Power plants. In 2011, former defense minister said, i dont think japan needs to possess Nuclear Weapons, but it is important to maintain our commercial reactors because it would allow us to produce a Nuclear Warhead in a short amount of time. Its a tacit nuclear deterrent. Can you comment on this . This way of thinking is something which has existed a long time particularly within the liberal democratic party. The reason for this was very similar to the statement. I personally believe for japan commit developing Nuclear Weapons is not an option for japan and not something that is necessary at all. Why do you think the current japanese Prime Minister shinzo abe is so pronuclear, even after fukushima . Ofi believe in the case Prime Minister abe, he is not necessarily a strongly for Nuclear Power than other previous Prime Ministers, however, the Biggest Issue is the fact hes continuing to push for this even after the experience of fukushima. I dont believe the Current Administration including abe is more strongly pronuclear than in the past, but i cannot understand why he can make the decision, how he can make the decision that even having the risk of having to evacuate 50 stilln people a he wants to promote Nuclear Power. Why we have to bear such a risk and i cannot understand. It is said there could be an even larger earthquake in central japan. Could this lead to a disaster like fukushima or even larger . I believe such a risk does exist. It is not possible to prevent natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, but humans can prevent manmade disasters such as Nuclear Disasters. If a disaster happens, for example, an earthquake, that is exactly why we need to stop Nuclear Power plants now. Japan is a country and area very prone to natural disasters come as somewhat to the west coast of the United States, for example, and that is why it is so important to get rid of the Nuclear Power plants now it is even though we cannot prevent natural disasters, it is possible for us to prevent Nuclear Disasters. Can japan secure its Energy Future without Nuclear Power . I believe that indeed it is very much possible for japan to secure its energy needs without relying on Nuclear Power. My last job when i was in the position of Prime Minister was to introduce a system which has been in place now for 1. 5 years which has led to now our applications in place in the case of solar power, up to 20 million kilowatts of energy to be produced through solar. Already in operation is 3. 5 million kilowatts in just this one year. Considering the equivalent capacity, that is almost the same as for simple 20 Nuclear Power plants. If we consider what could be done in 10 years, 20 is, i believe it is very much possible to replace the proportion of electricity and energy needs which were covered by Nuclear Power with renewable energy. And up to the year 2050, i believe it is very much possible to decrease the reliance on fossil fuels and cover the majority of power and energy by renewable energy. Japan can follow the path that germany is going. Japan has enough technological capacity to do this. You are traveling the world and you have come to the United States. What is your International Message . Particularly for president obama who is pushing for the building of more Nuclear Power plants is hasnt happened in close to 40 years because of the Antinuclear Movement and the cost of insuring Nuclear Power plants as well as dealing with the nuclear waste. What would you say specifically to president obama . In regard to the situation in the United States, i have been there several times recently and heard from people involved. I believe the situation, while there is no creation of new Nuclear Power plants, because of the aging nature of many of the plants, there is actually a move toward a reduction of the number of Nuclear Power plants. At the peak, i heard there were about 150 plants in the u. S. And now here the number is around 95. But i believe the big reason for this is a disaster of fukushima show the cost of how much it is to maintain the safety of the Nuclear Power plants. And really showing that economically rather than relying on the Nuclear Power plants, but it is more economically beneficial to look for other options of energy, perhaps fossil fuels. I believe why there are many plans in place for the construction of new Nuclear Power plants, they are not actually physically going into the construction phase. My message to obama would be, when considering Energy Policy from now and considering the issues and problems of the cost and nuclear waste, while it may have once been said there was a Nuclear Nuclear technology now is clearly old and Dangerous Technology and we need to be looking at other ways. Finally, theres 1. I would like to share also through many different discussions in u. S. And so on, but one thing that is left a deep impression on me through exchange and discussions , the thing that was said to me, we dont know when or where a Nuclear Disaster may happen, but we do know it may happen so we need to think not that this wont happen, but think about what to do if this does or how to prevent this from happening. And when he was in japan, he met with many people from fukushima and many people directly affected and suffering from the disaster. And what he said was that Nuclear Power plants should not be built in places near where people would have to evacuate if something happened. This is reason, for example, one he was against the extension of the pilgrim plant near boston and i share this opinion with him. Nuclear power plants should not be built in any kind of location where people would have to evacuate if something were to happen. When we consider that in the case of japan, theres nowhere a Nuclear Power plant could be built. Within the whole world, also, i believe there is probably a list of places where Nuclear Power plant should go. What message do you have for antinuclear grassroots activists for reaching the old you . The Prime Minister of japan who is pronuclear . I personally have visited california, new york, and boston on the invitation of such grassroots antinuclear activist. In speaking with them and hearing about what theyre doing and also visiting taiwan in a similar capacity, i feel it is important to speak or approach president , congress, parliaments, the more than that we need to look at the local level mayors, state governors for example and how to approach local political leaders is the most effective. Of the plant in california, i believe it was crucial for this plan as well. It is very important. My message i would like to share for grassroots activists is to remember to not only look at the national, but think about how you can actively approach or local politicians. , naoto kan mr. Naoto kan thank you very much. , Prime Minister of japan and the fukushima jt meltdown at third. Use one of the few sitting World Leaders to have changed his decision completely while in office. He is now eating opponent of Nuclear Power anywhere. He is now the leading opponent of Nuclear Power in where. When we come back, noam chomsky. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. We andur fukushi ahima anniversy special of the words of the worldrenowned political dissident, linguist, author and m. I. T. Professor noam chomsky, who also traveled to tokyo last week. He is now 85 years old. He met with survivors from fukushima, including families who evacuated the area. This is professor noam chomsky speaking in japan. Particularly horrifying this is happening in japan with its unique her in his experiences with karen this expresses with the effects of nuclear explosions, to discuss and it is particularly horrifying when it is happening to children who are defenseless, innocent. Unfortunately, this is what happens all the time. I had two daughters that were about the age of your daughter. They would come home from school telling us how in school they were taught to hide under desks in case there was a nuclear war. This was right after the cuban missile crisis when the world came very close to nuclear war. Children were very upset. I knew children who are friends of families who were sure they were never going to survive because the world was going to be destroyed by nuclear war. But the official line was, dont worry, everything is under control. The same was true again for my daughters when they were about her age. We stopped feeding them know them milk because the scientists were concerned and recognize theres a very high level of the chemical in the milk coming from atomic explosions the u. S. Was carrying out an openair explosions. The government assured everyone there was no problem, but we just a lot of People Like Us just stop feeding the children and give them only powdered milk, which came before the explosions. It happens all the time. Iraq, there isn a city, falluja, which was attacked by u. S. Forces using weapons that no one understands. They leave a high level of radiation. Iraqi andstudies by american doctors showing a very high level of cancer among children far higher than before and the whole neighborhoods of falluja. But the government denies it. The u. S. Government denies it. The Iraqi Government doesnt function. International organizations refuse to look so it is all being carried out by independent organizations and citizens groups. Nd this is simply everywhere in 1961, the United States began a Chemical Warfare in south crops and destroy livestock. That went on for seven years. The level of poison they used the most extreme carcinogen known, dioxin. This went on for years. The enormous effect in south , there are children today being born in saigon hospitals that are deformed with horrible to formations. The government refuses to investigate. They have investigated effects on american soldiers, but not on the south vietnamese. Theres a listthe of it except for independent citizens groups. It is case after case, but it is a horrifying story and particularly horrifying for you because youre suffering from it. But that is the way governments operate. They protect themselves from their own citizens. The governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be protected. That is why you have stay secret laws. Citizens are not supposed to know what their government is doing to them. Just to give one final event, when Edward Snowdens revelations appeared, the head of u. S. Intelligence, james clapper, testified before congress that no Telephone Communications of americans are being monitored. N outlandish lie lying to congress is a felony. You can go to jail for years. Not a word. Liernments are supposed to to their citizens. Author and m. I. T. Professor noam chomsky speaking during his visit to tokyo last week. Peschel thanks to our planet tv. You can visit democracynow. Org